Anyone else job hop?

[Bramble26]

Years ago I had a job I loved, with colleagues I loved. I would have happily stayed in it longer, except we had a toxic, psycho manager and I eventually became the next target who was subjected to bullying and harassment.

Since then I’ve been through 11 different jobs. I feel like such a failure that I can’t find anything to stick with longer than 2 years. To be fair some of them have been awful, and some of them were only temporary. Some have been an ok job, but the working environment has been bad. Some I had to work alone a lot and was very isolated.

I started a new job 6 weeks ago (been there for 9 months before this) and it is not what I was led to believe it would be. I’m really struggling mentally with it, but don’t want to ‘fail’ again, and the thought of applying for another job and starting over getting to know colleagues etc is so daunting, but I can’t carry on like this.

Anyone else struggle to find an ‘ideal’ job and stick with it?

I’m really sorry to hear this. I was subjected to bullying and harassment for raising serious, legitimate safety concerns. I also tried to return after being off sick and was forced out.

I’ve had a mixture of great job / great colleagues / toxic boss, boring job / great colleagues, ok job / awful line manager, ok job / lone working, lovely varied job - but was ad hoc hours on a self employed basis.

It's really concerning someone has had such a run of bad luck that several, or even many, job environments are toxic as described. This isn't usual.

We've all had shitty jobs and shitty colleagues over time, but for that experience to be so frequent I think does require some self reflection - is a complete career change worth considering, is the office environment not for them? If this is a long term issue, would it help to invest in some career coaching?

OP - what makes you happy? Do you have a hobby or passion that could be turned into a job, with the right support? Would you be more comfortable working alone? Reflecting on what you DON'T enjoy about current/previous jobs might help root out what you do enjoy.

I wouldn’t describe them all as ‘toxic’ only the one I got bullied in was toxic. Other jobs I’ve left because….

Line manager was completely disorganised and deadlines were constantly missed because they did not do their part on time - If you tell me there’s a deadline, I want to complete the work before or by the deadline not after. It is stressful missing deadlines.

Loved the job, work place etc but it was ad hoc hours on a self employed basis. I still work there occassionally and would have stayed permanently if they could offer contracted hours.

WFH for a company where everyone was remote. The team was disjointed and I was miserable WFH and having very little human interaction.

Another job where I worked alone a lot in a tucked away office and when my line manager was in, they barely spoke to me - I have a lot of former colleagues who are very close friends and I get on well with current colleagues so it wasn’t a me thing.

I don’t think I did describe them all as toxic? Only the one where myself and several other staff were bullied out was toxic.

I was very ill during and after that experience and I have left other jobs since if line managers have shown the slightest sign of behaving like that line manager. I’ve gone into flight mode because I wasn’t prepared to put my health on the line again.

I have looked into what I can do to be more resilient, but it often feels like I need some medication to be able to ‘cope’ and be more resilient at work. Unless I desperately need to, I’m reluctant to go back to a situation when I need medication just to cope with work.

I've had a bad run since covid. Could only find part time work due to the pandemic. This was not sustainable financially so had to leave after 18 months.

Moved jobs to an admin support role but they actually decided to put me pupil facing dealing with behaviour. Absolutely not what i applied for and left very quickly.

Then had a good job for over 2 years but they stopped replacing staff who left and the role became too much and had completely changed.

The next role was to implement a new system but after I started they realised they didn't have the funds to buy the new system. I then left as what they wanted me to do was awful and not what signed up for, plus lots of bullying.

I moved roles which at interview discovered was hybrid. Never fancied this but thought I'd try it. Turns out it was fully remote. Absolutely hated it. Managed nearly a year.

Latest role has a failing boss who is so disorganised its causing so much stress, plus shouting at me and pinning her errors on me. What do I do?? Im trying so hard and can't see what to do next. I know it doesn't look good, but I believe the reasons are all genuine.

@Bramble26 I think you are me!!!

I too do admin, but it is student facing. It was not what I signed up for and not what I expected to be dealing with. I get ‘dumped’ with the most challenging students after being explicitly told I wouldn’t have to deal with behavioural issues, and they’d be another person with me - which there isn’t!

I feel like such a failure, but after being in a quiet office with a lovely colleague, to moving into a room full of students coming and going all day, I find it impossible to do my work effectively - and that’s the area I am skilled and experienced in.

I'm currently in a similar situation. Desperately trying to hang onto term time working, but I dont think i have that luxury anymore. No money, no staff, often frightening and unsafe environment, shit tonne of pressure, toxic Trust. My colleagues are lovely though. I really don't think its a me problem.